Multiple-compartment carton



y 1967 C.J. GORZELANY ETAL 3,318,507 I MULTIPLE COMPARTMENT CARTON Filed Dec. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS (JASIMIR J.GORZELANY BY KEViN P. WHITE I y 1967 J. GORZELANY ETAL 3,318,507

MULT IPLE COMPARTMENT CARTON Filed Dec. 14, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 15- -17 2 2 ET/3 F l G. 4 13. My

F I G 6 INVENTORS CASIMIR J.GORZELANY BY KEVIN P. WHITE United States Patent C) 3,318,507 MULTIPLE-COMPARTIWENT CARTON Casimir J. Gorzelany, 136 Meadow St., Shelton, Conn. 06484, and Kevin P. White, 53 Emmett Ave., Derby,

Conn. 06418 Filed Dec. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 513,737 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-27) This invention relates to multiple-compartment cartons and pertains more particularly to a multiple-compartment carton with transverse partitioning that is derived from a single carton blank.

When packaging a number of units of a product in a single carton, often a number of the units are reposed one on top of another which results in the units at the bottom being required to bear the weight of those units disposed above them in the carton. In those instances where the product is susceptible to being permanently deformed when placed even under a relatively light load, such manner of packaging is objectionable. For example, it has been customary to ship newly made foam rubber pillows in cartons in which the pillows are stacked one on top of another until to 12 pillows have been so stacked. When the foam rubber pillows have been recently manufactured and not aged before being so packaged, the mere weight of the pillows on the top of the stack bearing on the pillows at the bottom of the stack causes the pillows on the bottom of the stack to become permanently distorted from their normal height. It will be appreciated that the degree of distortion will be lessened if the compression weight exerted on the pillows at the bottom of the stack is reduced and that such weight load would be reduced if the number of pillows in the stack were reduced.

The present invention provides a carton which is effect reduces the weight bearing down on those units placed in the bottom of the carton and thereby reduces the degree of height distortion imparted to the units so positioned while permitting the same number of units to be packaged in the carton and without increasing to any significant degree the overall size of the carton. In accordance with this invention, a carton blank is provided which when folded in the prescribed manner provides a transverse partition that divides the carton into top and bottom compartments and that serves as a floor for the top compartment that bears the weight of those units packaged in the top compartment and prevents the weight of such units from bearing down onto the units packaged below the transverse partition.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of a specific embodiment of this invention and from the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the carton blank from which a carton embodying the present invention may be formed;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton blank of FIG. 1 after'it has been folded to produce the side walls of the carton;

FIG, 3 is a side elevation view, partly broken away and in section, of the blank folded as shown in FIG. 2 except with opposing partitioning flaps folded back into the carton so as to abut against the side walls of the carton with which they are associated;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation view in section of the partially formed carton folded as shown in FIG. 3 except with the opposing bottom end flaps folded to provide the Patented May 9, 1367 floor of the carton and vertical supporting flaps for supporting the transverse partition of the carton;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation view in section of the folded carton blank folded as shown in FIG. 4 except with the partitioning flaps which form the floor of the upper compartment of the carton folded into position and resting upon and being supported by the vertical supporting flaps which divide the bottom portion of the carton into two compartments; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged perspective view of the carton folded as shown in FIG. 5 except with the top closing flaps folded into place to close the carton.

Referring to the drawings, the carton blank 10 is formed from a single generally rectangular piece of suitable carton material, such as corrugated car board, and is comprised of rectangular-shaped panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 of equal height defined by scoring (the scores being designated by the letter a) which panels form the side panels of the carton. Attached to the upper edges of panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are rectangular-shaped closing flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 which are separated from each other by slots 1?, 19. Rectangular-shaped partitioning flaps 29 and 21 are attached to the bottom edges of panels 11 and 13, respectively, and are scored laterally along scorings b, b that extend parallel to the bottom edge of side panels 11 and 13 and which divide each flap 2G and 21 into two sections 23a, 26b, 21a, 21b. As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, sections Zila and 210 are folded into the carton and abut against side panels 11 and 13, respectively, and sections 20b and 21b are folded inwardly toward each other to form a hori zontal divider which separates the interior of the carton into top and bottom compartments. Rectangular-shaped flaps 22 and 23 are attached to the bottom edges of panels 12 and 14, respectively, and are scored laterally along scorings c, c that extend parallel to the bottom edges of side panels 12 and 14 and which divide each flap 22 and 23 into two sections 22a, 22b, 23a, 23b. As will be explained in greater detail hereinafter, flaps 22a and 23a are folded inwardly toward each other to form the bottom of the carton and flaps 22b and 23b together provide a vertical support for supporting sections 20b and 21b in a horizontal position so that sections 26b and 21b can function as a load bearing supporting floor for the upper compartment of the carton. Flap 20 is separated from flap 22 by slot 24, flap 22 is separated from flap 21 by slot 25, and flap 21 is separated from flap 23 by slot 26. The side edges 15:: and 200 of flaps 15 and 20, respectively, which are adjacent to the exposed edge 11:: of panel 11 are indented slightly (a distance equal to about /2 the width of one of the slots 19, 19, 24, 25 and 26) and side edges 18a and 230 of fiaps 18 and 23, respectively, which are adjacent to the exposed edge 14:: of panel 14 are similarly indented to facilitate the folding of the carton blank.

In forming the carton shown in FIG. 6 from the blank 10, the blank 10 is folded along the scored side edges of the side panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 until the exposed side edge of panel 11 abuts with the exposed side edge of panel 14, as shown in FIG. 2. The abutting edges of panels 11 and 14- then are attached together with a strip of tape 27, which is adhesively secured to panels 11 and 14 in the conventional manner, to form a structure that is rectangular in crosssection. Next, flaps 22 and 23 are folded back into the body of the carton formed by the side panels 3 11, 12 and 13 and 14 as previously described until flaps 22 and 23 are folded back against the interior surfaces of side panels 12 and 14, respectively, as shown in FIG. 3. Flaps 2% and 21 then are folded inwardly toward each other, and sections 2012 and 21b of fiaps 20 and 21, respectively, are folded vertically, as shown in FIG. 4. When flaps 20 and 21 are so folded, sections 20a and 21a together form the bottom of the carton and sections 20b and 21b form a vertical partition that separates the bottom portion of the carton into two compartments. The opposing surfaces of sections 20b and 21b may be secured together with staples or adhesive, if desired, to form a unitary vertical structure. The carton now is ready for initial filling thereof by filling the bottom two compartments of the carton with the product to be packaged in the carton. After the two bottom compartments are filled, flaps 22b and 23b then are folded inwardly toward each other until they rest upon the upper edge of the ver tical partition formed by flaps 20b and 21b and in this position flaps 22b and 23b form a horizontal partition that functions as a floor for the upper compartment of the carton. The vertical partition formed by flaps 20b and 21b, consequently, not only divides the bottom portion of the carton into two compartments but also functions as a supporting member for flaps 22b and 23b which latter function is its primary function. The upper compartment of the carton then is filled and'closing flaps 15, 16, 17 and 18 are folded inwardly .to close the carton. The closing flaps 15, '16, 17 and 18 can be secured together with a 7 suitable adhesive, with staples, or with adhesive tape.

It will be appreciated that the length of flaps 29a and 21a each should equal /2 the width of a side panel 12 or 14 if the vertical partition formed by flaps 20b and 7 21b. is desired to divide the bottom portion of the car ton into two compartments of equal size. The combined lengths of flaps 20a and 21a, in any event, should equal the width of side panel 16 (or side panel 18) so that when fiaps 2t} and 21 are folded as described above flaps 20a and 21a together conform to the configuration of the bottom of the carton.

Also, if it is desired that flaps 22b and 23b when folded horizontally form a partition that laterally divides the carton in half, it will be understood that the length of flaps 20b and 21b each should equal /2 the height of a side panel '11 or '13.

Further, the combined length of flaps 22b and 23b should equal the width of side panel 11 (or side panel 13) so that the opposing edges of flaps 22b and 23b when folded horizontally just abut each other. Preferably, the length of flap 22b is just equal to the length of fiap 23b. 7

It Will be appreciated that the Wight of products packaged in the upper compartment. of the carton will not bear upon those products contained in the two bottom compartments of the carton but, instead, the weight will be borne by the flaps 22b and 23b and by flaps 20b and 2112 which vertically support flaps 22b and 23b. Consequently, those items packaged in the bottom two compartments of the carton will not tend to be distorted by the items packaged in the upper compartment of the carton.

The advantage of a carton constructed in accordance with this invention is illustrated by the results of actual test data. A carton constructed as described above and as shown in the drawings was filled with 24 foam rubber pillows, six pillows being stacked one on top of each other in each of the two compartments in the bottom of the carton and two stacks of six pillows each being packaged'in the upper compartment of the carton. In another carton of equal exterior dimensions but having no interior partitioning, two stacks of twelve foam rubber pillows each were packaged. The foam rubber pillows were taken from standard production and packaged while they still were warm after coming from the driers. The

heights of each of the pillows were measured before being Percent of Original Height Pillow No. Non-Partitioned Partitioned Carton Carton It will be understood that there would be some loss in height even if the pillows were not stacked due'to normal shrinkage of'the foam rubber. The comparative data il' lnstrates, however,

packaged in the carton made most pillows in the stacks packaged in the conventional carton.

We claim:

' 1. A multiple-compartment carbon formed from a single cartonblank which carton comprises four vertical side panels of equal height which define a structure that is rectangular in cross-section, two of the said side panels which oppose each other each having a rectangular-shaped flap attached to its'bottorn edge, each of said flaps being scored along a score extending parallel to the bottom edge of the side panel to which it is attached to 'divide said flaps into two sections, each of said flaps being folded inwardly into the interior of said cartonwith the section of each said flap immediately adjacent the side .panel to which it is attached folded back against the interior sur face of the side panel to which it is attachedand with the remaining section of each said flap being folded laterally inwardly into the carton to form a lateral partition that divides the interior of the carton into an upper compartment and a bottom compartment, the other two side panels which oppose each other each'having a rectangularshaped fiap attached to its bottom edge which flaps each are scored along a score extending parallel to the bottom edge of the side panel to which it is attached to divide said flaps into two sections, each of said latter-mentioned flaps being folded with the section of each said flap immediately adjacent the side panel to which it is attached folded laterally which sections together form the bottom of the'carton and with the remaining section of each said latter-mentioned flap being folded vertically inwardly'into the carton and contiguous with each other to form a vertical partition that divides the said bottom compartment of said carbon into two compartments'and which supports the said lateral partition formed by the first-mentioned pair of fiaps in a horizontal position, the height of the said vertical partition formed by the sections of the latter-mentioned pair of fiaps being essentially equal to the length of the said sections of the first-mentioned pair of fiaps that are immediately adjacent to the side panels to which the flaps of which they are a part are attached,

and rectangular-shaped closing fiaps of suflicient length 7 to close the top opening of the carton, said closing flaps fiaps which together form the said lateral partition that divides the interior of the carton laterally into an upper compartment and a bottom compartment abut against each other.

the uniformity in height of pillows in accordance with this invention and the effect of the added weight on the bottom- 3,318,507 5 6 3. The carton of claim 2 in which the lengths of the References Cited by the Examiner sections of the flaps which together form the said lateral UNITED STATES PATENTS partition that divides the interior of the carton laterally into an upper compartment and a bottom compartment 23441999 3/1944 Newsom 229 27 are essentially equaL 5 2,531,090 11/1950 Turner 229-27 4. The carton of claim 2 in which the lengths of the 2,743,863 5/1956 Glaser 229 27 sections of the first-mentioned pair of flaps that are immediately adjacent to the side panels to which the first- JOSEPH LECLAIR P'lmary Exammer' mentioned pair of flaps are attached are essentially equal R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner.

to one-half the height of the side panels of the carton. 10

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,318,507

Casimir J. Gorzelany et al.

May 9, 1967 at error appears in the above numbered pat- It is hereby certified th that the said Letters Patent should read as ent requiring correction and corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, lines 3 to 5, for "Casimir J. Gorzelany, 136 Meadow St. Shelton, Conn. 06484, and Kevin P. White, 53 Emmett Ave., Derby, Conn. 06418 read Casimir J. Gorzelany, Shelton, and Kevin P. White, Derby, Conn., assignors to The B. F. Goodrich Company,

New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. A MULTIPLE-COMPARTMENT CARBON FORMED FROM A SINGLE CARTON BLANK WHICH CARTON COMPRISES FOUR VERTICAL SIDE PANELS OF EQUAL HEIGHT WHICH DEFINE A STRUCTURE THAT IS RECTANGULAR IN CROSS-SECTION, TWO OF THE SAID SIDE PANELS WHICH OPPOSE EACH OTHER EACH HAVING A RECTANGULAR-SHAPED FLAP ATTACHED TO ITS BOTTOM EDGE, EACH OF SAID FLAPS BEING SCORED ALONG A SCORE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE SIDE PANEL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED TO DIVIDE SAID FLAPS INTO TWO SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID FLAPS BEING FOLDED INWARDLY INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID CARTON WITH THE SECTION OF EACH SAID FLAP IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE SIDE PANEL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED FOLDED BACK AGAINST THE INTERIOR SURFACE OF THE SIDE PANEL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED AND WITH THE REMAINING SECTION OF EACH SAID FLAP BEING FOLDED LATERALLY INWARDLY INTO THE CARTON TO FORM A LATERAL PARTITION THAT DIVIDES THE INTERIOR OF THE CARTON INTO AN UPPER COMPARTMENT AND A BOTTOM COMPARTMENT, THE OTHER TWO SIDE PANELS WHICH OPPOSE EACH OTHER EACH HAVING A RECTANGULARSHAPED FLAP ATTACHED TO ITS BOTTOM EDGE WHICH FLAPS EACH ARE SCORED ALONG A SCORE EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE SIDE PANEL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED TO DIVIDE SAID FLAPS INTO TWO SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID LATTER-MENTIONED FLAPS BEING FOLDED WITH THE SECTION OF EACH SAID FLAP IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE SIDE PANEL TO WHICH IT IS ATTACHED FOLDED LATERALLY WHICH SECTIONS TOGETHER FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE CARTON AND WITH THE REMAINING SECTION OF EACH SAID LATTER-MENTIONED FLAP BEING FOLDED VERTICALLY INWARDLY INTO THE CARTON AND CONTIGUOUS WITH EACH OTHER TO FORM A VERTICAL PARTITION THAT DIVIDES THE SAID BOTTOM COMPARTMENT OF SAID CARBON INTO TWO COMPARTMENTS AND WHICH SUPPORTS THE SAID LATERAL PARTITION FORMED BY THE FIRST-MENTIONED PAIR OF FLAPS IN A HORIZONTAL POSITION, THE HEIGHT OF THE SAID VERTICAL PARTITION FORMED BY THE SECTIONS OF THE LATTER-MENTIONED PAIR OF FLAPS BEING ESSENTIALLY EQUAL TO THE LENGTH OF THE SAID SECTIONS OF THE FIRST-MENTIONED PAIR OF FLAPS THAT ARE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE SIDE PANELS TO WHICH THE FLAPS OF WHICH THEY ARE A PART ARE ATTACHED, AND RECTANGULAR-SHAPED CLOSING FLAPS OF SUFFICIENT LENGTH TO CLOSE THE TOP OPENING OF THE CARTON, SAID CLOSING FLAPS BEING ATTACHED TO THE TOP EDGES OF THE SAID SIDE PANELS. 